Police estimate that two dogs and three cats were abandoned at a home in Ashland for two or three weeks with no food, no water, and no heat.

Jarad Carney of the Ashland Police Department says, “I honestly believe they probably would not have made it through another night in that cold.”

Last Thursday Sergeant Jarad Carney received a phone call from the landlord of the home at 222 Portage Road..who was concerned that the tenant living there had left the home – and left a few animals behind. After Sgt. Carney obtained a search warrant, he found two dogs and three cats..living inside this freezing home that was and still is full of feces.

“Horrible conditions, horrible conditions…no living thing should live in something like that,” says Carney.

Police with the help of Animal Welfare brought the animals to the Central Aroostook Humane Society – where they are now. Manager Betsy Hallet said one of the cats was older and had to be humanely euthanized for the safety of the other animals in the shelter.

“With the way its been so cold and they had absolutely no heat, I couldn’t even imagine,” she says.

Hallet says when the cats came in they were cold, dehydrated, and they had ear mites and fleas…now the other two are doing well, the fleas are gone, and they will be available for adoption in a few days. It’ll be a while before the dogs can be adopted. Hallett says both of their skins are infected, one needs to be neutered, and the other needs knee surgery. Meanwhile District Humane Agent Chrissy Perry did locate Brenda Bouchard – the former owner of the animals – in Oakfield. Bouchard signed over the rights to the animals to the humane society. She has been charged with animal cruelty and will be in court in February.